My Dad 66yr old with bowel cancer stage 4 with liver mets

Hi everyone,

I am back, up and at 'em!  Nevs "total bowel obstruction" was, in fact (forgive me) quite literally, crap!  I do believe scans are wonderful, but they are only as good as the person interpreting  them.  Anyway, to cut a long story, he is home, no surgery and I await the next drama!  Thank you all so much for your kind words and thoughts.

Judy,

So glad you feel up for the fight,  what else is there?  When does Bob start his chemo?

Jules,

Lets hope things soon get back on track for your Dad.  Nev used to suffer terribly with low white cell count, as I told you, he was admitted a few times with infections.  Well, he no longer needs the injections because his white cells are perfectly fine, in fact they went into overdrive and were 5 times higher than normal, the only difference being I have gone down the hippy dippy route and give him Life Mel Honey to boost white cell production.   I like to think it's helping, but it certainly can't hurt.  How is your Mum doing?

Hope everyone is ok

Take care

Love Ann xx

Hi all, and thanks for the info Magda.  Very useful.  Also Ann on the Life Mel honey.  Yes funny you call it the hippy dippy route... like I say I would love to get Dad into taking something to help, but must say I don't like my chances as he is very much old school and totally does what the Doc's say (Don't get me wrong - that's great BUT...) there is a lot of proven info out there on supplements and the Doc's don't seem to support it too much.  I guess I can understand that, but  as you say Ann, it can't hurt! 

Judy go for gold on the chemo... great attitude and sound like things are positive! 

Ann - WHAT?? My goodness what a lot of worry for nothing!  So what was the problem then?  Sometimes it does seem like there is so many things that can go on with this cancer, that they really don't seem to know what is going on!  Great to hear Nev is home!  Bet you are both smiling again!

Yes well Dad had his chemo again today!! Yeah back into things.  Must say I think we are all a bit worried about how this cycle will go after all that Dad has gone through.  But gee he is looking good again, needs to put a bit of weight on again, but seems on top!  They don't seem to worried about doing another scan until around the 6th cycle of this one so another month or so I guess!! Always wating, wondering what's going on in there!  Ann you asked how Mum is, I'd same much the same as you and the other lovely wifes out there who are dealing with this crap!!  She tries so hard to be positive, but as she said is so hard.  Things as you know can change over night and kick you in the guts.  My Mum is an ultra organised person and is doing so well just taking one day at a time and I am so proud of her.  I guess you say we are getting through it together.  Well all take it easy, and Patrick how are you doing?  I hope getting on OK.    JULES          
      

Jules,

My route to recovery is slow but I am making progress. My guts are still not working correclty but they are improving. I'm due to switch from XELOX to FOLFOX + Cetuximab next week but I have to start all over again with the chemo regimen - maybe as many as 12 sessions - that's the target. I can only hope that my body can cope with it and that I can put up with the side effects/symptoms. I truly cannot cope with a repeat of the last hospitalisation - it was too painful and certainly not worth it.

Patrick

Hi All

I wanted to say to Ann, I am so glad to hear about Nev, I was thinking of you all weekend and I was so pleased to see you post saying that there was no surgery and he was home.  I know that the rollercoaster continues but hopefully the next dip is along way off.

Al has been suffering since chemo 2 and half weeks ago.  He was really sick in the car on the way home and his stomach has not been right ever since. He has had diarrhoea for a week and a half now and is really dreading chemo on Thursday.  We are hoping it is a bug that he has picked up but could it be his body rejecting the chemo.  He is going to phone the onc tomorrow to see if the treatment can be delayed until after our holiday (we are going to Mauritius in 2 weeks time) as he does not want to feel this bad on holiday.  He feels drained and really at the end of his tether with his stomach.  It makes such a loud gurgling sound. It is also high up in the stomach almost under the ribcage. Other than that he has not other symptoms.

I have been reading with interest about the supplements that have been mentioned.  Al got recommended to a nutritionist and he recommended the following.  8 bitter apricot kernels a day, 2 pints of water mixed with 10g of alkalising salts a day and Udo Ultimate Oil Blend 3-4 dessertspoons per day.  The oil is rich in omega 3, 6 & 9.  Not sure if these have caused the stomach problem as he only started to salt and oil this month.

Hope the new chemo goes ok next week Patrick but you must feel very apprehensive.  Fingers crossed.

Jash

Jash,

I really feel deeply for your Al. I have been there with exactly the same symptoms which could only be dealt with by taking Oramorph. It was very bad but I got through the pain with help. I had pains under my rib cage and my lower abdomen with peristaltic cramping. Truly awful with the final attack of black (blood containing) diarrhoea for 4 days. I thought I wouldn't make it and felt suicidal but I did get through it.

I was taking all sorts of food supplements some to reduce chemo toxicity and others to increase chemo effectiveness. So who knows whether they were just too effective - I will never know.

I will keep my fingers crossed for him. It may well be awful but he will get through it and it will pass - it just doesn't feel like it at the time.

For me I am apprehensive about re-starting my chemo - but I believe I no choice.

Patrick

Hi Patrick,

Can you buy Oramorph over the counter.  Al has been taking Imodium but it has made no difference at all.  He is on a short fishing break at the moment and is due back tomorrow but I know he has really struggled.  He went this week as it is usually his good week during treatment.  Maybe the onc will suggest something when he phones tomorrow.

Jash

Jash,

For diarrhoea he should be taking Loperamide to slow down his gut. For perstaltic cramping it needs to be Buscopan and for pain in ascending order of strength, Paracetamol, Co-Codamol (POM), and lastly Oramorph (POM) - where POM = Prescription Only Medicine. I have been given about a month's supply of much of all of those pharmaceuticals. I have to decide myself if and when I take any of them - it's a lonely decision and I have complained about being virtually abandoned particularly at weekends or at night.

Patrick

Hi,

Just an update.  Al spoke to onc today and he is not having chemo tomorrow.  He has got to go in for bloods.  Not sure whether to feel disappointed or relieved.  

Jash

Jash,

That is very odd. They should always be taking blood samples in advance of every chemo session so that they can monitor what is going on in one's body.

Patrick

Hi everyone,

I really am having trouble holding it all together at the moment.  Nev was taken back to hospital at 2 am Wednesday vomiting, well, you don't want to know what, and is really ill just now.  I honestly don't know what the hell is going on.  Forgive me, I havn't had a chance to read the posts properly but I hope you're Dad is getting on ok Jules and Jash I hope Al is ok and his chemo can re-start.

I'm back off to the hospital now, Nev is having a "special"? scan.

Take care

Ann xx